From Power to Impeachment: William Woods Holden, The Ku Klux Klan, and Impeachment, 1868-1871

The end of the Civil War would begin an era of Reconstruction that lasted from 1865 to 1877. The goal of Reconstruction was to reestablish the South into the Union and create a new society in which all men were created equal regardless of race. The battle between the Republican and Democratic Parties made Reconstruction a long and strenuous process. North Carolina was not exempt from the struggles of Reconstruction. As governor between 1868-1871, William Woods Holden faced many political struggles. The Republican governor fought to protect the citizens of North Carolina against violent groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Governor Holden's struggle against the Ku Klux Klan ended his political career and reestablished the dominance of the Democratic Party.